Specialist Pharmacists - Polypharmacy

NHS Fife; Dunfermline; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Fife in Dunfermline seeks a Specialist Pharmacist - Polypharmacy to optimise medicines for patients with complex regimens. The role is full-time and on-site, working within multidisciplinary teams to drive appropriate deprescribing and safe prescribing practices.

The post involves leading structured polypharmacy reviews, advising prescribers, and contributing to audits, formulary development and staff training to improve patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with eligibility to practice in the UK.
• Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy or medicines optimization is desirable.
• Experience in polypharmacy management and medicines optimisation is essential.
• Ability to work within multidisciplinary teams and provide clear clinical advice.
• Excellent communication with patients, caregivers and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Conduct structured polypharmacy reviews for patients with complex regimens.
• Assess medication appropriateness and deprescribe where indicated according to guidelines.
• Provide expert pharmaceutical advice to prescribers and support clinical decision-making.
• Educate patients and caregivers about regimens to promote adherence.
• Contribute to audit, quality improvement projects and pharmacology formulary work.
• Mentor and train pharmacy staff and wider clinical team.

Skills

Polypharmacy management

Structured medication reviews

Deprescribing

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical decision support

Patient education

Audit & quality improvement

Data-informed service development

Time management

Teaching / mentoring

Education

Registration as a UK pharmacist

Postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy

Tools

Electronic prescribing

Clinical documentation systems

Office IT tools

Job description

Company Description

NHS Fife is part of Scotland's national health service, providing a broad range of acute, primary, and community healthcare services to the people of Fife. As a public sector organization, it is committed to high clinical standards, patient safety, and equitable access to care. Staff work in multidisciplinary teams to deliver evidence-based services and continuous quality improvement. NHS Fife supports professional development and innovation, offering opportunities to contribute to service redesign and population health. The organization values collaboration, inclusion, and person-centered care across all clinical settings.

Role Description

The Specialist Pharmacist - Polypharmacy is a full-time, on-site role based in Dunfermline, working within multidisciplinary teams to optimize medicines use for patients with complex therapy regimens. Day-to-day responsibilities include conducting structured polypharmacy reviews, assessing medication appropriateness, and deprescribing where clinically indicated in line with national guidelines and local protocols. The role involves providing expert pharmaceutical advice to prescribers, contributing to clinical decision-making, and supporting safe, effective prescribing across primary and secondary care. The Specialist Pharmacist will educate patients and caregivers about medication regimens, promote adherence, and support shared decision-making. Additional duties include contributing to audit and quality improvement projects, supporting formulary and guideline development related to polypharmacy, and providing training and mentorship to pharmacy and wider clinical staff.

Qualifications

• Registered pharmacist with relevant professional registration and eligibility to practice in the UK; postgraduate qualification in clinical pharmacy or medicines optimization is desirable.
• Strong clinical pharmacy skills, including experience in medication review, medicines reconciliation, and therapeutics for long-term conditions and multi-morbidity.
• Expertise in polypharmacy management, including risk-benefit assessment of treatment regimens, deprescribing, and application of evidence-based guidelines.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, providing clear clinical advice and collaborating with medical, nursing, and allied health professionals.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain complex medication information to patients and caregivers in an accessible, person-centered way.
• Experience in audit, quality improvement, and use of data to inform service development and measure outcomes related to medicines use.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage a clinical caseload, prioritize tasks, and meet service targets.
• Commitment to continuous professional development, openness to new practice models, and engagement with training, supervision, and reflective practice.
• Familiarity with NHS systems, electronic prescribing, and clinical documentation processes; competence with standard office and clinical IT tools.
• Experience in teaching or mentoring pharmacy staff or students, and contributing to the education